The Luka Doncic ‘weight’ problem that forced the Dallas Mavericks to take tough calls last season is yet to leave them anytime soon. The Mavericks have started training camp with scrutiny over Anthony Davis’ conditioning. Davis is currently listed at 268 pounds, 15 more than last season, and has raised eyebrows about his conditioning and guidance for younger players on the roster. So, NBA champion Kendrick Perkins didn’t hold back in his assessment of AD’s readiness for the season.

Speaking on ESPN, the analyst said, “You have a rookie in Cooper Flagg, who is your number one pick that’s coming in, and what kind of example is that to show him?” His critique sets the tone for a major concern regarding leadership and conditioning, something that Perkins has also criticized former Maverick Luka Doncic for.

Perkins also emphasized that the stakes are high for Davis and Dallas in a tough Western Conference. “You are in a tough Western Conference that’s loaded… You were traded for an international superstar, and you are that guy on this team right now. You need to come into camp in shape.” His comments highlight just how much pressure there is on both Davis and the team to meet contention standards after a tumultuous 2024-25 season, filled with injuries and a major roster shakeup at mid-season.

The Mavericks were unable to pull off last season despite Nico Harrison believing the team could stay in competition. Despite getting an opportunity to stay afloat, they had to pack up after a poor Play-in performance against the Memphis Grizzlies. They lost 106-120 despite Davis’ 40 points night, who had to step out limping due to a right calf injury in the fourth quarter. He returned briefly, but didn’t finish the game.

Also, Anthony Davis’ offseason has been far from normal. According to Davis himself, the forward entered camp as a part of a process to work himself into shape by mid-November, saying, “I never want to come in at my playing weight, because then I lose weight during the season and then I’m too small.” This, combined with recovery from the retina surgery for an injury suffered during the previous season, has led to an increased weight coming into camp. But amid all of this, fans still have a reason to come down heavily on Perkins.

Fans fired back at Kendrick Perkins for his in-shape comments

Social media reacted quickly to Perkins’ comments with a mix of humor and debate, coming to Anthony Davis’ defense. Fans weighed in on various aspects of the discussion, including weight, past injuries, and what it means to be “in shape” in the NBA.

One fan dismissed Perkins’ comments outright and pointed out how ironic it was for Perkins to comment on Davis‘ conditioning, saying, “Last dude to be talking about out of shape, he spent half his career huffing and puffing up and down the court smdh.” Perkins, last listed at 6’10, 270 pounds, was considered one of the heaviest players in the league and has undergone many weight fluctuations after retirement.

Others rushed to Davis’ defense, highlighting his recovery. “He literally had surgery for a detached retina. That s— takes months to heal, and ur not supposed to lift weights or do much physical activity,” a user noted. Yes, it takes time for anyone to come out of any surgery, and Davis himself knows that. “You guys will see me in the Horace Grants,” Davis referred to the former longtime big man known for his colorful eyewear. “It won’t be like that. But I will have some protective eyewear for sure.”

Not everyone piled on Perkins, though. One fan gave him credit for, according to them, staying in shape during his playing days: “For reference: When KP was playing, he stayed in decent shape as a big man. Yall making comments about him now (he’s been retired for years) is a weak point.” While BMI standards would count Perkins as overweight during those days, a lot of the weight is also a result of him playing a bruising, hard-nosed style of defense, requiring him to stay on his feet while he guards taller players.

Many fans pointed to a pattern of Perkins criticizing stars for poor conditioning. “Ironic this guy calls out Luka and now AD about being out of shape? 🤣,” One fan laughed, pointing to what seems like a habit for the retired big man. After a game where Doncic struggled against the Golden State Warriors in April, Perkins had remarked, “Luka’s biggest issue has to be addressed in the offseason. He’s out of shape. He needs to lose weight… That’s not gonna happen no time soon. It’s a reason that Golden State was searching him out defensively, and it’s gonna continue to happen even when they get into the postseason.”

Finally, one fan connected to dots towards drama from last year, saying, “AD comes in fat is the karma Nico didn’t realize he was going to receive for calling Luka fat after the trade,” highlighting a humorous irony that not many would have predicted, especially Dallas GM Nico Harrison.